Public Affairs & External Relations Sr. Manager

Public Affairs, External Relations, & Sustainability Communications Sr. Manager Job Purpose

The US Public Affairs, External Relations and Sustainability Communications Senior Manager will be tasked with protecting and enhancing the group’s corporate reputation in the United States and in Region Americas. Reporting solidly to the Communications and External Relations function, they will proactively engage key local stakeholders, such as institutions, trade associations, consumer associations, media and NGOs to present Barilla, its position on relevant topics and issues and its corporate ESG activities, ensuring that the company has an established network of allies in case of need.

They will also support activities from a corporate PR perspective and provide crisis management support to the local crisis team.

This is a hybrid role based out of Northbrook, IL.

• Engagement of key institutional stakeholders in Americas Region (Washington D.C., Chicago, Ames, Avon, etc)
• Stakeholder map, list of essential contacts, organization of networking events.
• Work with external lobbying firms to:
  • Research:
    Analyze proposed legislation and regulations
  • Develop strategies:
    Create plans to influence policy and legislation
  • Build relationships:
    Form connections with government officials, staff, and other stakeholders
  • Educate:
    Explain the impact of legislation to lawmakers and the public, and to internal colleagues and functions.
  • Present:
    Appear before legislative committees and hearings to advocate for clients.
  • Report:
    Monitor legislative activities and policy changes.
  • Provide advice:
    Offer strategic advice to US and Global senior business leaders to inform Barilla business strategy. Advise shareholders and the board when required.
• Management of trade associations:
  Participation in trade association meetings and support to the participation of business colleagues; effective representation of Barilla’s interests and position within the association. Alignment of internal colleagues on topics and issues discussed by the trade associations. Alignment of the global team on local issues and topics.
• Sustainability communication:
  Participation in conferences and events to represent Barilla’s position and achievements in the field of sustainability; organization of the launch event for the sustainability report; organization of events, throughout the year, on sustainability topics relevant for Barilla US and Americas; ensuring effective media coverage of Barilla global and local sustainability initiatives.
• Corporate communication:
  Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Will be required to drafting and deliver speeches, press releases, and write/deliver corporate presentations with NGO’s, Stakeholders, and regulators.
• Support to Corporate PR activities:
  Use of own network of contacts to support Company PR and reputational initiatives; successful coverage of business projects or to obtain industry recognition for activities/results.
• Crisis management:
  Support to the local crisis team. Drafting of statements, Q&As, comms materials when needed. Implementation of global and local crisis management strategies in partnership with Crisis Teams.
• Act as spokesperson on behalf of the company if needed.

• Bachelor’s degree required - Marketing, PR, or Communication focus preferred
• Minimum 6+ years of professional work experience in corporate communications management or public relations firm with expertise in the consumer products domain, specifically food
• Expertise in crisis management
• Experience with in global organizations where team members are in multiple offices in multiple countries
• Ability to forge strong relationships, internally as well as externally
• Demonstrated strategic media and public relations capabilities, with proven expertise in contributing to significantly increasing brand awareness
• Experience working with external lobbying firms
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Able to work in a changing and challenging, fast‑paced environment
• Proven change agent experience in a growing business environment with an increased level of demands and…